Yesterday Coloccini was taunted by supporters in a section of Carrow Road known as 'the snake-pit'.

'He wants to go home,' they chanted. 'He misses his mum.'

The humour was an attempt to hit the
long-haired defender where it hurts. Yet he let his feet do the talking -
and almost snatched a winner 10 minutes from time.

Coloccini's spectacular volley fizzed over the bar almost before keeper Mark Bunn had time to react.

But it was at the back that
Coloccini looked calmest, defying his emotions after his wife returned
to home, reportedly due to an illness.

'I thought he played well,' said manager Alan Pardew. 'Out of the central defenders he looked the calmest and most assured.

Debut: Mathieu Debuchy made his Magpies bow

'We'll speak this week and try to
resolve the situation, and we'll keep that in-house. But of course I'm
hopeful of keeping him.'

But Newcastle continue to slide down the table even though Pardew spoke as if he had stopped the rot.

Backing up: Jonas Gutirrez holds off Russell Martin at Carrow Road

'This was definitely a step forward for us,' he said.

'It was a real solid performance and we looked a little like the old Newcastle.'

Slide rule: James Perch battles with Alex Tettey

Norwich manager Chris Hughton rued
squandered chances. He said: 'I was pleased with the clean sheet and we
were confident at the back, but less so offensively. We lacked quality
and composure in the final third and our set-pieces let us down, too. We
have to make sure we steer clear of trouble.'

It was a dismal first half.
Newcastle's Gabriel Obertan and Papiss Cisse saw shots saved by Bunn,
while Wes Hoolahan wasted a good chance and Tim Krul stopped a soft
header from Robert Snodgrass.

Watchful: Coloccini follows Simeon Jackson run

Going to ground: Coloccini and Snodgrass hit the deck after a full-blooded tackle

There was brief excitement in the
second half when Norwich captain Russell Martin's half-volley hit a post
and Anthony Pilkington's powerful shot was well saved by Krul.

Substitute Grant Holt also caused chaos in the Newcastle area with a header at the end.

On the move: Gabriel Obertan skips pas Sebastien Bassong

Ploughing a lone furrow: Papiss Cisse was short of service

Stopping the rot: Alan Pardew's side halted a run of three straight defeats